Filling and valving assembly for radiator system

ABSTRACT

Removable filler cap for pressurized radiator system includes thermostat, pressure escape, vacuum break, and is held in place by a pair of safety locking rings.

United States Petent Foults Oct. 24, 1972 [54} FILLING AND VALVING ASSEMBLY [56] References Cited FOR RADIATOR SYSTEM UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Jonathan Asa Foults, Wolcott, 9 3,246,637 4/1966 Walsh ..l23/41.l 3,428,251 2/l969 1 Gross et al. ..236/92 R 1 ASSIgHeeI Manufacturmg Company, 3,463,346 .8/1969 Mitchell ..220/44 R Waterbury, Conn. [22] Filed; 20, 97 Primqry Examiner-WillianlE. Wayner Attorney-Dalleit Hoopes 211 Appl. No.1 173,395 Y r [57] ABSTRACT [52 US. Cl ..236/34.5, 123/4164, 236/92 R Rembvable finervcap f pmssumed radiator system [5 3 -.-..-F0lp V pressure escape vacuum break [58] Field of Search ...'..236/92, 34.512194230424235; n hin place by a pair of Safety locking rings.

' I 3 Claims, Drawing Figures 26' 22 3 04 5 IO\ U 4-8 76 PATENTED um 24 I972 sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. Jonathan A .Fou its ATTORNEY FILLING AND VALVING ASSEMBLY FOR RADIATOR SYSTEM This invention relates to a filling and valving assembly for a pressurized automobile radiator system. More specifically, the invention relates to such an assembly wherein means are provided for thermostatic control of flow through the system depending on temperature of the system, for venting the system upon occurrence of excessive pressure, for relieving vacuum developed in the system, and for filling the system.

This invention relates to an improvement on the radiator system filler cap disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,463,346 to William C. Mitchell. That structure included a filler cap with special safety means for removal, and means for venting pressure and vacuum. The present invention includes provision for the conventional thermostatic control of circulation in a radiator system depending on temperature, as well as the structural advantages of the Mitchell cap, all in the same simple structure. There is thus provided a multipurpose unit especially desirable in radiator systems of I cars in which space under the hood is limited. Also, of course, the convenience of having the radiator thermostat along with other system controls in a single readily demountable unit is an advantage not suggested in the prior art.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and including drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a radiator system embodying the invention;

FIG. la is an enlarged sectional view of the unit only shown in FIG. 1 and rotated 90 about a vertical axis;

FIG. lb is a section taken on the line 1blb of FIG. la;

FIG. 1c is a top view of the valve disc as shown in FIG. 1a with portions broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view from which the sectional view of FIG. 1 is taken on the line 1-1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the condition of the assembly during pressure venting;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the assembly during vacuum breaking;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the thermostat in the open condition permitting flow through the system; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the control unit in a stage of removal while the system is under pressure.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the assembly embodying the invention is generally designated 10. It comprises a housing portion 12 including a first channel l4 and a second channel 16. These two channels are vertically stacked and separated by a housing partition 18 in which there is an opening 20. Above the channel 16 is a vent fill recess 22 open to the atportion 28 and the head 30 is an annular shoulder 32 provided with a seal and normally resting on the housing portion about the opening 24. The head has a peripheral sealing rib 34 which engages the wall of the recess 22. Below the rib 34, a vent hole 36 penetrates the head. The top of the head 30 of the unit carries annular boss 38 and is engaged by a pair of C-shaped rings 48 and 50 which fit under an inward flange 52 about the top of the recess 22. At the top of the housing por tion as shown in FIG. 4, the ends of the rings 48 and 50 extend out through a cut-out 54in the top of the housing portion. In this regard, the structure is similar to the cap in the aforementioned Mitchell patent.

The control unit 26 (FIG. 1a is provided with a first passage 56 by which communication is possible between the first channel 14 and the second channel 16. In the passage is an annular valve seat 58.

Legs 60 depend from the cage and support a retaining plate 62 having a central opening and an upward annular flange 64 thereabout. A conventional heat-actuated motor 66, such as is available from Scovill Manufacturing Company under the trademark Vernatherm, is provided in the passage 56. It comprises a cylinder body enclosing a heat responsive wax and a working piston 68 which abuts at its upper end a bridge 70, part of the cage. The motor assembly 66 has an outward valving disc 72 which, when the system is cool,

' engages the seat 58 and closes off the passage 56, the

mosphere and having an opening 24 into the housing unit being biased upwardly by the spring 74. The spring 74 is held in compression between the valving disc 72 and the plate 62. v

As shown, theupper end or head 30 of the control unit 26 is provided with a vent spout 76. Within the unit a passage 78 makes possible communication between the vent spout 76 and the second channel 16.

Within the cage 28 of the control unit is a second annular valve seat 80 which is disposed in the passage 78. A valving disc 82 normally seats on the seat 80, being pressed downward thereagainst by the pressure spring 84. Spring 84 is disposed in compression between the top of the head 30 and the valve disc 82. Upon the occurrence of high pressure in the system, forces develop sufficient to raise disc 82 from its seat 80 and permit venting through the passage 78 and out the spout 76.

The valve disc 82 (FIG. 1c) comprises two parts, a metal backing plate 86 having a central opening 88 and a rubber diaphragm 90 having an off-center opening 92. The periphery of the plate 86 is crimped over the periphery of the diaphragm 90 to provide a unitary assembly.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the retaining plate 62 and the leg 60 to which is attributable a desirable feature of the invention. As shown, the inside surfaces of the leg 60 are provided with arcuate recesses 94 and the retaining plate 62 is formed with correspondingly arcuate ends 96. The sides 98 of plate 62 are cut off as shown (FIG. 2) with the result that to remove the motor 66, if desired or necessary, the plate 62 may be simply rotated counterclockwise (FIG. 2) until the ends 96 are proximate the legs 60 so that the unit is disassembled. As an aidin installation, stops 100 are provided to limit the clockwise rotation of the plate 62.

The structure of the embodiment shown having been described, operation will be now clear from FIGS. 5 through 8.

In FIG. 7, the motor 66 is shown with its piston 68 extended. This extension is due to the thermal response of the waxy substance within the cylinder of the motor 66. Pressure of the end of the piston 68 against the bridge 70 causes the entire body of the motor 66 to lower against the bias of the spring 74. This backs the valving disc 72 away from the seat 58 and permits flow through the system as shown by the arrows (FIG. 7). Even when the valving disc 72 is seated, there is flow through the channel 14 out'the heater or bypass connection102.

Upon the occurrence of high pressure in the system,

venting is effected through the mechanism shown in FIG. 5. This simply involves the pressure developing a force against the valving disc 82 sufficient to raise the disc from the seat 80, working against the spring 84. The vented pressure then passes through the remainder of passage 78 and out spout 76. On reduction of the pressure, the spring 84 will cause the disc to resume its position on seat 80.

FIG. 6 demonstrates the breaking of vacuum which may be developed in the system after cooling. As shown, the motor 66 has reduced the extension of its piston 68 due to the bias of the spring 74 so that the disc 72 rests on the seat 58. If, in cooling, a vacuum develops within the system, higher pressurein the atmosphere will work against the resilient diaphragm 90 pushing it away from the rigid plate 86 so that atmospheric pressure comes into the system through openings 88 and 92. When the pressure within the system substantially equals the atmospheric pressure, the resilient diaphragm 90 will return to its position against the plate 86 and connection to the atmosphere will be blocked. Obviously, thereafter upon the development of any pressure at all in the system, the diaphragm 90 will even more securely close the openings 88 and 92 as it presses against the plate 86.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the control unit 26 partially removed. In this view,-ring 50 (not shown) has been removed leaving the ring 48 only restraining further removal of the control unit. In the position shown, there is venting of the pressure within the chamber, past the shoulder 32 which normally seats as shown in FIG. 1 about the opening 24, through the vent hole 36, and out through the vent 76. The rib 34 blocks venting directly upward around the head 30. After the pressure has vented, the second ring 48 may be removed and the entire unit 26 withdrawn vertically upward. As described in the Mitchell patent, removal of the two v 4 rings 48 and 50 at the same time is precluded by the I raised annular boss 38 disposed inside the rings on the top of the head 30. The height of the boss 38 may be substantially equal to the height of one of the rings.

The many advantages of the compact effective structure shown are now clear. Variations are possible within the scope of the invention which may be described in the following claim language.

I claim:

1. A filling and valving assembly for a pressurized radiator system comprising:

a..a housing'poition including a first and second channel, the second channel disposed above the first in the housing portion, and a vent-fill recess above the channels, a first opening between the vent-fill recess and the second channel, and a second opening between the second channel and the first channel, the first and second openings being in venicle alignment; b. a control unit extending from the vent-fill recess through the first opening, through the second channel, through the second opening in sealing relationand into the first channel, the unit having a downwardly directed annular shoulder normally resting on and sealingly engaging the housing portion about the first opening;

0. releaseable means holding the unit down in the housing portion with the shoulder so disposed;

first passage means in the unit connecting the second and first channels;

. temperature responsive valve means selectively blocking or permitting passage through the first passage means; I

f. second passage means in the unit connecting the second channel and vent means adapted to vent to the atmosphere; and

. spring-pressed means in the unit normally blocking the second passage but yielding upon occurrence of excess pressure in the second channel.

2. A filling and valving assembly as described in claim 1 wherein spring-pressed means includes resilient valve means normally closed, but adapted to open the second passage upon occurrence of negative pressure in the second channel.

3. A filling and valving assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the releaseable means for releasing the unit and selectively holding it loosely in place for venting pressure prior to complete removal of the unit. 

1. A filling and valving assembly for a pressurized radiator system comprising: a. a housing portion including a first and second channel, the second channel disposed above the first in the housing portion, and a vent-fill recess above the channels, a first opening between the vent-fill recess and the second channel, and a second opening between the second channel and the first channel, the first and second openings being in verticle alignment; b. a control unit extending from the vent-fill recess through the first opening, through the second channel, through the second opening in sealing relation and into the first channel, the unit having a downwardly directed annular shoulder normally resting on and sealingly engaging the housing portion about the first opening; c. releaseable means holding the unit down in the housing portion with the shoulder so disposed; d. first passage means in the unit connecting the second and first channels; e. temperature responsive valve means selectively blocking or permitting passage through the first passage means; f. second passage means in the unit connecting the second channel and vent means adapted to vent to the atmosphere; and g. spring-pressed means in the unit normally blocking the second passage but yielding upon occurrence of excess pressure in the second channel.
 2. A filling and valving assembly as described in claim 1 wherein spring-pressed means includes resilient valve means normally closed, but adapted to open the second passage upon occurrence of negative pressure in the second channel.
 3. A filling and valving assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the releaseable means for releasing the unit and selectively holding it loosely in place for venting pressure prior to comPlete removal of the unit. 